"Grey Cock in Birmingham"
The Grey Cock was renowned for the work it did on Traditional song.
Charles Parker produced the Radio Ballads along with Ewan and Peggy - introduced working class culture without the patronising BBC voice, and presented some of the best of our traditional singers.
Parker's record alone with The Song Carriers, the Sam Larner programmes, Harry Cox/Sam Larner film - and all the other platforms put its contribution to folk song streets ahead of most clubs I can think of.
Had a good, dedicated group of residents which never put on anything less than a more than adequate evening, in my experience.
Their work with The Park House Convention and Banner Theatre made a lasting impact on the scene, as did the work done by Roy Palmer.
The Charles Parker Archive at Birmingham Central Library, set up by Grey Cock members, remains one of the most important archive sources
As far as a "no-go area for common sense", it didn't go in much for navel gazing snigger snogwriters, but you can't please all of the people all of the time!
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Jim Carroll